Author Archives: kbower

The Audacity of Digital Media Production

Posted on by

I found the exercise of working with sound files, still images and text to be extremely engaging and now can see how these multiple dimensions enrich the creative experience. I admit that I also enjoyed the challenge of precision in the process: finding the right image at an appropriate resolution, harmonizing the tones of voice, soundtrack (!) and content, finessing the placement and duration of visual elements, all while just touching the surface of what iMovie and Audacity are capable of. This has been a wonderful opportunity to explore new methods of conveying ideas in aesthetically interesting and animating ways, and I’m audaciously hoping to develop inspiring ideas for how to integrate this new knowledge into my teaching in the future.

A big shout out of appreciation to Ken and Hil for organizing this session and running it so effectively!

Slo Mo

Posted on by

Okay, maybe it was just me, but when I played back my text on the voice recorder, I sounded like a zombie, sleep deprived or on some kind of drug. After I don’t want to confess how many re-takes with increasingly accelerated speech bordering on hysteria without much difference in the playback, I tried it on my computer and found the speed to be much more natural. Too bad I deleted several takes that might have been just right…

Breathless in Henrico, out.

Clueless in Henrico, in: Just realized that I’d been using the DPC speed control function that affects playback. Switched it to on thinking it was linked to turning the recorder on. Cue Homer Simpson: Dooh!

Blogging 101

Posted on by

I found today’s session to be both informative and enjoyable (and I’m grateful for my shield, Ken). Unlike several other members of our group, I had no experience with WordPress. As a result, I was intrigued and inspired by the pedagogical potential of such a medium and was impressed by some of the examples of how faculty are using blogs in their classes. I had already planned on using a blog for the new course I’m creating on “Visions of Berlin” and this first brush with WordPress gave me a better sense of the range of possibilities for that course and others.

The video interview assignment was an opportunity to actually experience the challenges of speaking in front of camera, consider issues of composition and lighting, and recognize that multiple takes may be required to get the desired effects. It is also humbling to realize how much easier it is to stand in front of a class than talk to a camcorder. I’m looking forward to the hands’ on exercise of editing in iMovie tomorrow.